January 20, 2011

This Guac Rocks!

The powers-that-be over at the Wholly Guacamole company happened upon my Simple Vegan Nachos to Daiya For post and asked me if they could send some products to review. My answer?"Well, heck yes!"
Listen, I'll admit that maybe it's not really fair for me to accept their guacamole to review because I already know that I love it. I've been eating the organic stuff for years, and I practically pee myself with glee every time I find a coupon for it. It was also one of my daughter's first baby foods! But, I am not the kind of girl who turns down free guacamole, so I let them send it to me anyway. When the package came, I didn't just get one pack of regular ol' guac. Nuh-uh. The box was filled to the brim with all kinds of neat stuff, including salsas and guacamole snack packs! Did you even know that Wholly Guacamole came in snack pack form?? I didn't. And I sure as heck didn't know they made salsa!

Here's the rundown of what I received, and my thoughts on each...

CLASSIC GUACAMOLE
The reason I started eating this particular brand of guacamole in the first place is because of the ingredient list.
Check this out:Hass Avocados, Jalapeno Puree (white vinegar, jalapeno peppers, salt) Dehydrated Onion, Salt, Granulated Garlic.
That's it! Just normal ingredients, nothing weird, no chemicals. That was the first attraction for me, and then I tasted it... YUM! This is the closest to good, old-fashioned homemade guac I've ever eaten. And, since it uses real ingredients, it's packed with loads of vitamins and minerals. And, yes, it comes in an organic variety too!

SNACK PACKS - SPICY / CLASSICThe snackpacks are fabulous because sometimes I want some guac, but if nobody wants to share a regular-sized pack with me, I'm stuck either eating the whole thing myself (which isn't always a problem, I've been known to do it many times) or trying to store it. And, since the ingredients do not include preservatives, the guac will brown just like the regular stuff will. Now, I recently discovered that if you do not remove the unwanted portion of guac from the plastic bag and just clamp it shut with a clothespin, it will stay nice and green. So, that's one way to do it. But if I want to put it in a sack lunch, I won't have that option. So, here come the snack packs!
If you're counting calories, they're already portioned into 100 calorie packs. Guilt-free and full of vites.

WHOLLY SALSA - MILD / MEDIUM / HOT
Once again, just look at these ingredients:Tomato, Onion, Green Bell Pepper, Cilantro, Lime Juice, Salt, Garlic, Spice, Garlic Powder
Nothing creepy, no chemicals. I love that! I really wish more companies would take the hint that we don't want foods with an ingredient list that looks like a NASA experiment.
I'm a Texan, and Texans love salsa. Most of us make our own, and I'm no different. But sometimes I need a quick batch for a party, or just a spoonful to ladle onto my tofu scramble. And that's when I turn to the store-bought stuff. I despise picante sauce, so I shy away from anything that looks watery. And, ever since my pregnancy, it is very difficult for me to look at an over-cooked green bell pepper without queasing up a bit. So, anything with little over-cooked gray squares in it, squares that were once green bell peppers, is definitely out! That lowers my choice factor quite a lot. And I have honestly never found a store-bought salsa that just blew me away... until now. This stuff is perfect for me. Yes, it has green bell peppers in it, but they are cut small enough that I don't even notice them and, on top of that, they have not been over-cooked. They're still green! Can you imagine?
The flavor is only very mildly spicy. Even the "medium" salsa was low on the spiciness scale. If you like it spicy, I recommend the hot one. I am not a fan of the spicy, so it was just right for my tastebuds.
I tried it both on Daiya quesadillas, and on plain old baked tortilla chips, and it was excellent. I now officially have a salsa that I can buy at the store and enjoy just as much as the homemade stuff!

Go HERE to register for special offers and giveaways from Wholly Guacamole.
They'll give you a coupon just for signing up!

*Please note that, while I was sent a free sample of the above-reviewed goods, I was not paid in any way,
shape or form to do this review. My opinions about this product are
honest. I raved about the stuff because it was
legitimately tasty. And I am always happy to back a product that I
really like.

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A LI'L BIT ABOUT ME

Howdy! My name is Jennifer. I am a bread n' buttered Southern girl - a Texas native, wife and mom, living in the heart of cowboy country. I don't own a camera, so my pictures are taken with my phone, which isn't really a phone because I don't have service, so it's just a tiny computer. The title of the blog isn't simply a clever moniker - I am chronically low on funds and I pay for most stuff with loose change. My recipes tend to be easy and inexpensive. I try to feed my hungry family of three the most wholesome meals I can create while keeping my budget in check. I hope I can help you save money too! Enjoy the recipes, y'all!